Environmental Heat Exposure and Heat-Related Symptoms in United States Coast Guard Deepwater Horizon Disaster Responders

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Creator
  • Erickson, E.A.
    • Other Affiliation: Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
  • Engel, L.S.
    • Affiliation: Gillings School of Global Public Health, Department of Epidemiology
  • Christenbury, K.
    • Other Affiliation: Social and Scientific Systems
  • Weems, L.
    • Other Affiliation: Army Corps of Engineers
  • Schwartz, E.G.
    • Other Affiliation: Direct. of Health, Safety and Work Life Coast Guard
  • Rusiecki, J.A.
    • Other Affiliation: Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
Abstract
  • The response to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill was impacted by heat. We evaluated the association between environmental heat exposure and self-reported heat-related symptoms in US Coast Guard Deepwater Horizon disaster responders.Methods Utilizing climate data and postdeployment survey responses from 3648 responders, we assigned heat exposure categories based on both wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) and heat index (HI) measurements (median, mean, maximum). We calculated prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) via adjusted Poisson regression models with robust error variance to estimate associations with reported heat-related symptoms. We also evaluated the association between use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and heat-related symptoms.Results Those in the highest WBGT median-based heat exposure category had increased prevalence of heat-related symptoms compared to those in the lowest category (PR=2.22 [95% CI: 1.61, 3.06]), and there was a significant exposure-response trend (P<.001). Results were similar for exposure categories based on WBGT and HI metrics. Analyses stratified by use of PPE found significantly stronger associations between environmental heat exposure and heat-related symptoms in those who did not use PPE (PR=2.23 [95% CI: 1.10, 4.51]) than in those who did (PR=1.64 [95% CI: 1.14, 2.36]).Conclusions US Coast Guard Deepwater Horizon disaster responders who experienced higher levels of environmental heat had higher prevalences of heat-related symptoms. These symptoms may impact health, safety, and mission effectiveness. As global climate change increases the frequency of disasters and weather extremes, actions must be taken to prevent heat-related health impacts among disaster responders.
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  • Article
Rights statement
  • In Copyright
Journal title
  • Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness
Journal volume
  • 13
Journal issue
  • 3
Page start
  • 561
Page end
  • 569
Language
  • English
Version
  • Postprint
Funder
  • National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, NIEHS: R01ES020874
ISSN
  • 1935-7893
Publisher
  • Cambridge University Press

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